György Piller
Encyclopedia
George Piller (June 19, 1899–September 6, 1960) was an Olympic and world champion fencer
from Hungary in the 1920s and 1930s who became an internationally respected world-class fencing master in Hungary and the United States in 1950s.
, Hungary. Early on he decided on a military career. By 1920, he had graduated from the Ludovica Military Academy where he began training at the fencing school. He became an army officer, but continued his fencing career. He subsequently attended the fencing academy at the Toldi Miklos Royal Hungarian Sports Institute where he became a pupil of the legendary fencing master László Borsody
. (Gaugler 1998:392).
at the 1932 Olympics, in Los Angeles, Piller took 1st place individually in saber and 1st place in team saber. He was awarded the saber team gold medal at the 1933 International Fencing Championship in Budapest. According to (Cohen 2002:400), he was Hungarian foil champion six times.
and defected with the team to the United States after Communist Russia invaded Hungary in 1956. (University of California 1958:424). He Americanized his name to George Piller.
By 1958 he had become the fencing master at the University of California at Berkeley. His success there, aided by World Champion saberman Daniel Magay
, was immediate.
The University of California 1958 Cal Blue and Gold Yearbook stated: "Coach George Piller in his first year at Cal, trained a championship team. The future looks very promising for fencing at the University of California. After a long struggle for survival without the services of a coach, Cal fencers were fortunate in getting George Piller to serve as their coach, since Mr. Piller is considered one of the world's greatest fencing masters.” (University of California 1958:424). “The 1959 Yearbook continued: “Cal's Fencing Team, coached by famed Hungarian Master George Piller, enjoyed a successful 1958-59 The Bears beat Stanford, San Jose State, SF State, University of Arizona, and the Air Force Academy to emerge as champions of the Western Intercollegiate Fencing Conference. This feat earned them five first-place trophies.” (University of California 1959:262).
Piller also became the fencing master at the Pannonia Athletic Club, whose fencers also won many championships at the amateur level. Some of his notable students included Daniel Magay
, Maestro Charles Selberg and John McDougall.
Piller died from a terminal illness in San Francisco, California, on September 6, 1960. The high calibre of his successors was a testament to his greatness: he was followed at University of California Berkeley by Maestro Julius Palffy-Alpar and his successor at Panonia Athletic Club was Maestro Ferenc Marki
.
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
from Hungary in the 1920s and 1930s who became an internationally respected world-class fencing master in Hungary and the United States in 1950s.
Early life
He was born György Jekelfalussy-Piller on June 19, 1899 in EgerEger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
, Hungary. Early on he decided on a military career. By 1920, he had graduated from the Ludovica Military Academy where he began training at the fencing school. He became an army officer, but continued his fencing career. He subsequently attended the fencing academy at the Toldi Miklos Royal Hungarian Sports Institute where he became a pupil of the legendary fencing master László Borsody
László Borsody
László Borsody was a Hungarian fencing master who is acknowledged in Hungary as being one of the greatest fencing masters of all time, the primary creator of the modern Hungarian style of saber fencing that led Hungary to a half century of superiority and gold medals at the World Championships and...
. (Gaugler 1998:392).
Olympic and world champion fencer
His talent led to championships and Olympic gold. In 1930 and 1931, and 1933 he won the gold medal in individual saber at the World Championship. In the fencing eventsFencing at the 1932 Summer Olympics
At the 1932 Summer Olympics, seven fencing events were contested, six for men and one for women.-Medal Summary:-Medal table:-Participating nations:A total of 109 fencers from 16 nations competed at the Los Angeles Games:...
at the 1932 Olympics, in Los Angeles, Piller took 1st place individually in saber and 1st place in team saber. He was awarded the saber team gold medal at the 1933 International Fencing Championship in Budapest. According to (Cohen 2002:400), he was Hungarian foil champion six times.
World-class fencing master
In 1951, Piller became a coach and fencing master (Cohen 2002:408). He was the coach of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Gold Medal Hungarian Saber Team Fencing at the 1956 Summer OlympicsFencing at the 1956 Summer Olympics
At the 1956 Summer Olympics, seven fencing events were contested, six for men and one for women.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-Participating nations:A total of 165 fencers from 23 nations competed at the Melbourne Games:...
and defected with the team to the United States after Communist Russia invaded Hungary in 1956. (University of California 1958:424). He Americanized his name to George Piller.
By 1958 he had become the fencing master at the University of California at Berkeley. His success there, aided by World Champion saberman Daniel Magay
Daniel Magay
Dániel Magay, an Olympic and World Championship Gold Medal saber fencer, was born on April 6, 1932 in Szeged, Hungary.-Early training:After completing high school studies at the Piarista Gimnazium, Magay studied with the Italian fencing master Eduardo Armentano, who had come to Hungary as part of...
, was immediate.
The University of California 1958 Cal Blue and Gold Yearbook stated: "Coach George Piller in his first year at Cal, trained a championship team. The future looks very promising for fencing at the University of California. After a long struggle for survival without the services of a coach, Cal fencers were fortunate in getting George Piller to serve as their coach, since Mr. Piller is considered one of the world's greatest fencing masters.” (University of California 1958:424). “The 1959 Yearbook continued: “Cal's Fencing Team, coached by famed Hungarian Master George Piller, enjoyed a successful 1958-59 The Bears beat Stanford, San Jose State, SF State, University of Arizona, and the Air Force Academy to emerge as champions of the Western Intercollegiate Fencing Conference. This feat earned them five first-place trophies.” (University of California 1959:262).
Piller also became the fencing master at the Pannonia Athletic Club, whose fencers also won many championships at the amateur level. Some of his notable students included Daniel Magay
Daniel Magay
Dániel Magay, an Olympic and World Championship Gold Medal saber fencer, was born on April 6, 1932 in Szeged, Hungary.-Early training:After completing high school studies at the Piarista Gimnazium, Magay studied with the Italian fencing master Eduardo Armentano, who had come to Hungary as part of...
, Maestro Charles Selberg and John McDougall.
Piller died from a terminal illness in San Francisco, California, on September 6, 1960. The high calibre of his successors was a testament to his greatness: he was followed at University of California Berkeley by Maestro Julius Palffy-Alpar and his successor at Panonia Athletic Club was Maestro Ferenc Marki
Ferenc Marki
-Fencing Master Ferenc Marki :Ferenc Marki was an internationally known fencing master and fencing coach at San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco, Mills College, and Pannonia Athletic Club who created champion fencers at every level...
.